The Biden Administration announced on Thursday morning that WNBA player Brittney Griner had been released from a Russian prison in exchange for Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer known to Western security agencies as the “merchant of death.”
The apparent imbalance in the trade was exacerbated by the fact that American citizen Paul Whelan, who served in the United States Marine Corps, was left behind in Russia. He’s been there for four years already.
The Biden Administration had publicly stated their aim for several months to try to win the release of both Griner and Whelan in exchange for the arms dealer, before announcing Griner’s one-to-one trade Thursday.
Is it true that the Biden Administration chose Griner over Whelan? It certainly seems that way.
Joe Biden on the Brittany Griner trade with Russia:
"This was not a choice of which American to bring home." pic.twitter.com/7APIBb3kLr
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 8, 2022
Although Biden officials and the president have denied this, multiple pieces of evidence suggest that Griner was prioritized above Whelan, and that Moscow permitted the Biden Administration to choose either man for the one-to-one trade.
KJP: "The choice was bring Brittney home or no one. The president will never stop working to secure Paul Whelan's release. On a personal note, Brittney is an important role model, an inspiration to millions of Americans particularly the LGBTQI+ Americans and women of color" pic.twitter.com/ClbGi6ysbq
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 8, 2022
KJP actually let the country know Griner was chosen because she’s black, female, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She referred to Griner as a role model and an inspiration to millions of Americans. And a former Marine is not?
Benny Johnson laid it out for Americans to decide for themselves.
“Meet Brittney Griner & Marine Paul Whelan.
Both Americans.
Both were convicted in Russian courts on dubious charges.
Both serving multi-year sentences in Russian prison.
Brittney hates America
Paul served America
Guess which one Biden traded a terrorist to free?
Semper fi Paul”
Meet Brittney Griner & Marine Paul Whelan.
Both Americans.
Both were convicted in Russian courts on dubious charges.
Both serving multi-year sentences in Russian prison.
Brittney hates America
Paul served AmericaGuess which one Biden traded a terrorist to free?
Semper fi Paul pic.twitter.com/tuP1R6AZpf
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 8, 2022
While Whelan served his country, Griner hated on the US every chance she got.
The corporate media, citing senior Biden Administration officials, has provided hints about prisoner exchange prospects. NBC News, a renowned propagandist for the government, secretly changed its narrative regarding the choice to chose Brittany Griner over Paul Whelan. For unclear reasons, NBC News changed its whole narrative on the prisoner exchange, citing a top US official.
The following is the important passage from NBC’s piece that was first read before being secretly modified (it is available at archive.ph):
“A senior U.S. official told NBC News that the U.S. government had sought to have both Griner and Whelan released as part of a swap with the Kremlin, which wanted the return of Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who has served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the U.S. But the official said Russia has treated Whelan differently because he is an accused spy, and that the Kremlin gave the White House the choice of either Griner or Whelan — or none.”
The current covertly modified version reads:
“A senior U.S. official told NBC News that the U.S. government had sought to have both Griner and Whelan released as part of a swap with the Kremlin, which wanted the return of Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who has served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the U.S. But the official said Russia has treated Whelan differently because he is an accused spy, and that the Kremlin ultimately gave the White House the choice of either Griner or no one after different options were proposed.”
Whelan’s Russian lawyer is also mentioned in the NBC report:
“Whelan’s Russian lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, also said that the deal was an exchange of ‘one to one,’ and that choosing Griner, 32, appeared ‘more humane’ because she is a woman and an Olympic champion, while Whelan was in the military and it is ‘easier for him to be in custody.’”
“Whelan's Russian lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, also said…that choosing Griner appeared ‘more humane’ because she is a woman and an Olympic champion, while Whelan was in the military and it is ‘easier for him to be in custody.’” https://t.co/w0QigxD3DO
— Mike (@Doranimated) December 8, 2022
Prior to Griner’s incarceration, Zherebenkov stated that Russia proposed a one-to-one swap for Whelan in exchange for Bout. This offer appears to have been dismissed by US officials.
Furthermore, Whelan’s brother has stated that the former US service man was being considered for a one-to-one swap just a few days ago.
.@MarniHughesTV will be speaking LIVE with Paul Whelans brother shortly on @NewsNation. She spoke with him just a few days ago and they talked about the potential of a one to one swap. As Marni shared on air just now – Whelan a U.S. marine sings the national anthem every morning.
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) December 8, 2022
According to initial reports, as well as the statements of Whelan’s lawyer and family, the Biden Administration appears to be lying about its deal with the Russians.
